8th Classical Music Conference of Lakshyapar

Lakshyapar’s 8th Annual Classical Music Conference began yesterday. It was a unique inauguration session set in the shanties of Isdair, Narayanganj. Titled “Britter Baaire” the centre of the opening session was Samageet Pathshala, a school of the underprivileged children conducted by Samageet Sangskriti Prangan. The programmes began with the hoisting of the national flag with the anthem. Then a rally moved through the rail road. The working session began inside Samageet Pathshala where children were introduced to Sitar and Sarod. Shamim Jahir (Sarod) and Nishit Dey (Sitar) talked about what ingredients these instruments are made of and then played on their respective instruments. After the introduction of each instrument, children were called on the stage and given the very abcs of sitting posture, holding the instruments in their lap, gripping the jawa or the mijrab with which to stroke on the strings and so on. Sumana Biswas, a lecturer in English and a renowned recitation artiste, reacted saying “I felt such a rush of emotion inside me to see the curiosity, intensity, and spontaneity among these underprivileged children that I wept for at least ten minutes before I could control myself”.

Meanwhile, Pandit Biplab Bhattacharya finished the first day’s work in a three day long workshop on tabla at Lakshyapar Paramparaa in Chashara.

The second day of the three daylong conference presented a classical music competition and a seminar at Narayanganj Preparatory School.

Lakshyapar Conference Sets in Hope

The 8th Annual Classical Music Conference of Lakshyapar ended with further determination and hope of more extensive work in its field.
The beginning of the three day long programmes was unique. Pivoting around a slum school named ‘Samageet Pathshala’, the first session was titled ‘Britter Baire’. About fifty destitute children sang the national anthem first for the flag hoisting; then participated in the rally singing “We shall overcome”. This inaugural rituals were followed by a workshop. Children were introduced to sitar and sarod respectively by Nishit Dey and Shamim Jahir. In last part of the session they were called upon the stage on by one, taught how to sit for the playing posture, hold the instrument in the niche of the lap, grip the pick and stroke on the strings. Language cannot express the joy of the children at this.

The scene shifted to Narayanganj Preparatory School for the two programmes of day 2. The first one was a classical vocal competition in which ten students of Lakshyapar Paramparaa fought for “Haradhan Sukhen Scholarship”. The second activity was a seminar on the “Aesthetics of Entertainment : The Context of Islam”. In it, English lecturer from Govt Haraganga College Sayed Asaduzzaman’s insightful deliverance added deep significance to the conference.

A workshop on Tabla was also held as part of the conference. Conducted by Pandit Biplab Bhattacharya, the six session workshop ended just before the conference entered its climax on 5 Jan . The evening was ushered in by a chorus of trainees Lakshyapar Paramparaa. The important moment of conferring Lakshyapar Lifetime Award 2016 came as a crowd of about four hundred people gathered in the convention centre of Narayanganj Club. Ustad Sunil Kumar Dhar was honoured with the title through a vein of traditional rituals like greeting with bastra (shawl), malya daan, (garlanding), pushpanjali (showering petals),and guru pranaam (worshipping) through dance performance. An awe struck veteran Sunil Dhar could hardy speak to express his reaction.

Then began the night long session of classical music performances. Swarnamay Chakrabarti from Chittagang sang a kehyal in Marwa and a thumri in mishra Kafi. Debashish Haldar’s sarangi mesmerized the audience. Moumita Haque Senjutee’ Puriya Dhanashree came with promises of great future. Her guru Sangeeb Dey could hardly hide his satisfaction at her performance.

At about 01am the typical late night dinner of Lakshyapar was served with khichuri, labra and egg korma. It always, it was lavish and delicious.

Then came on stage the new flute sensation from Kolkata Rupak Mukherjee. People listened spell bound. Tabla solo from Pandit Biplab Bhattacharya was special. Asit Dey’s Ramkeli and Devgiri both were perhaps his best in recent years. Ashim Chowdhury’s Basant Mukharee in sitar solemnly resonated with the fact that this conference was dedicated to Ustad Vilayat Khan. This sweet natured ever growing maestro of the great Imdadkhani gharana contributed to the depth and grandeur of the classical night. The curtain was befittingly drawn by Dr. Israt Jahan’s kheyal in raag Bairagee.